Psoriasis Treatment

Treatment for joint pain, skin rashes, skin dryness, fissures, flakiness, peeling, thickness, or redness. Also common: depression, inflamed tendons, itching, joint stiffness, or small dents in nails.

Dermatologists at our Seattle clinic specialize in treating people with psoriasis, a condition in which thick, scaly patches appear on the skin. Often, these patches itch or burn, and without treatment, they may not go away. Some people also experience painful, swollen joints; a condition called psoriatic arthritis. These conditions can appear in people of any age or gender.

Our board-certified dermatologists recognize that psoriasis affects your quality of life daily. Since it affects the skin in highly visible or sensitive areas, it adds to anxiety and self-esteem (including the face, scalp, arms, hands, and genitals). We partner with every single patient, and we listen. The result: we provide each and every single patient with individualized and comprehensive skincare plans that help you live life with fewer interruptions from this complex disorder.

Our Psoriasis Treatments:

No two patient conditions are alike. Treatments we offer are below, but to really know what's best is to make an appointment. Don't hesitate - call us today at (206) 267-2100 to be seen by one of our award-winning, board-certified dermatologists who provide you and your entire family with comprehensive and individualized care specific to your child utilizing their vast experience and ongoing training in the field of dermatology.

Psoriasis Medication-Based Treatment:

Based on the appearance of your skin, one of our board-certified dermatologists will determine if one or a combination of topical medications is right for your particular skin type and condition. No two conditions are exactly alike; our experience and updated certifications have taught us this over the past 40 years. So when it comes to topical medications, it is usually most effective for people with mild to moderate psoriasis (10% body coverage). A complete plan will be created for the administration of these topical treatments. [ Request an appointment }

Psoriasis Phototherapy Treatment:

Our phototherapy clinic is on-site here at our Seattle practice. Having a single-location means having our board-certified dermatologists on-site at all times, managing all teams, working together as one, resulting in improved communication, frequent success, and faster results. Our patients do not have to run around, and our clinic owner (Dr. Peter Jenkin) demands the latest and most advanced treatments for our patients. This affords our patients the best results in the shortest amount of time. Phototherapy treatments use ultraviolet light—the same type found in natural sunlight—that has been filtered to remove wavelengths that damage skin and utilize only the wavelengths beneficial for psoriasis. Exposure to these ultraviolet rays, called narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) rays, will reduce skin inflammation, slow skin cell growth, and minimize psoriasis lesions' appearance. Our in-clinic phototherapy center offers full-body phototherapy in as little as 5 to 10 minutes. Each phototherapy room has dozens of long, tube-shaped light bulbs that emit NBUVB light. While you remain standing, light emitted from these bulbs treats your skin. Our dermatologists recommend having phototherapy up to three times a week to start. Dermatology Associates of Seattle offers phototherapy appointments throughout the week from early morning to late afternoon, making patient treatment convenient. [ Learn more about phototherapy }

Psoriasis Laser Treatment:

Our board-certified dermatologists may recommend laser treatment if your symptoms don't respond to topical medication, solar therapy, or phototherapy. In this procedure, a dermatologist shrinks psoriasis lesions using a special laser. A highly concentrated beam of ultraviolet light will target psoriasis lesions using a wand-like device. The UVB light reduces skin inflammation, slows skin cell growth, and lowers the number of lesions. The handheld laser allows us to treat hard to reach areas such as the scalp.

This procedure is painless and can be performed during your visit to our clinic in a few minutes. Multiple sessions are usually required, and our dermatologists recommend two treatments per week. Some patients notice results after just a few sessions, and most see significantly clearer skin in about six weeks. Your dermatology team will determine whether continued treatment is needed to maintain symptom relief. You can expect to be able to return to work or continue your daily activities after each treatment.[ Request an appointment }

Psoriasis Injection Treatment:

If psoriasis symptoms are resistant to topical corticosteroids, or if a lesion is located in the scalp or another area that's hard to treat topically, your dermatologist may inject a corticosteroid solution directly into the lesion. An injected corticosteroid may take effect more quickly than topical treatment to reduce itching, redness, and swelling. You receive the injection in the doctor's office and may get more than one during an appointment. The doctor monitors the concentration given and the total amount over time to avoid side effects. Most of the time, local anesthesia is not necessary, and the injections cause little discomfort.
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Biologic Treatment for Psoriasis:

As a psoriasis treatment and research center, we have the most experience treating psoriasis with the newest and most advanced biologic medications. By the time these medicines are FDA approved, we already have several years of experience using them because of our clinical research activities. We are best able to make recommendations for when a biologic medicine should be used and which one would be best for your condition. [ Request an appointment }